VANGL2 inhibits antiviral IFN-I signaling by targeting TBK1 for autophagic degradation

Stringent control of type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is critical to potent innate immune responses against viral infection, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we found that Van Gogh-like 2 (VANGL2) acts as an IFN-inducible negative feedback regulator to suppress IFN-I signaling during vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection. Mechanistically, VANGL2 interacted with TBK1 and promoted the selective autophagic degradation of TBK1 via K48-linked polyubiquitination at Lys(372) by the E3 ligase TRIP, which serves as a recognition signal for the cargo receptor OPTN. Furthermore, myeloid-specific deletion of VANGL2 in mice showed enhanced IFN-I production against VSV infection and improved survival. In general, these findings revealed a negative feedback loop of IFN-I signaling through the VANGL2-TRIP-TBK1-OPTN axis and highlighted the cross-talk between IFN-I and autophagy in preventing viral infection. VANGL2 could be a potential clinical therapeutic target for viral infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Automated summary

In this study, VANGL2 was found to be an IFN-inducible negative feedback regulator that suppresses IFN-I signaling during VSV infection. VANGL2 interacts with TBK1 and promotes the autophagic degradation of TBK1 via K48-linked polyubiquitination mediated by TRIP. Myeloid-specific deletion of VANGL2 in mice results in enhanced IFN-I production against VSV infection and improved survival. These findings reveal a negative feedback loop of IFN-I signaling through the VANGL2-TRIP-TBK1-OPTN axis and highlight the importance of the crosstalk between IFN-I and autophagy in preventing viral infection. VANGL2 could be a potential clinical therapeutic target for viral infectious diseases, including COVID-19.